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This is the first of a 24-part series that will run up to SEC Media Days detailing Auburn's depth chart heading into the 2014 season. This comes well after the Tigers concluded their 15 spring practices and includes insight from nearly every position coach on the staff.

AUBURN -- For the first time in Gus Malzahn's college coaching career, he'll have a returning starting quarterback.

Nick Marshall was a huge part of Auburn's success in 2013 and his play in the fall will determine if the Tigers can get back to the national championship game.

The Pineview, Georgia native is the leading returning passer in the SEC, with 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns and 1,068 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.

His four touchdowns during A-Day were a reflection of an improved pocket presence.

Jeremy Johnson is more than formidable backup and could probably start for most teams.

Gus Malzahn's View"Nick feels a lot more comfortable. Even in the spring game, the casual eye could see, he's a lot more relaxed, he's throwing on the bounce, his eyes are in the right place with his progression. To me, with a lot of the receivers, other than (D'haquille) Williams is the new guy, so he should have a good grasp on that. And then the running backs , he's fairly familiar with those. He's very comfortable. We've got two guys -- Jeremy Johnson, we think, could start for a lot of other teams, too -- so the quarterback position is in very good shape."

He was throwing "100 mph fastballs" during practice, so Johnson's arm is still his most valuable weapon.

Next WaveJonathan Wallace (6-foot-2, 207 pounds, junior) went from an unlikely but potential starter heading into fall camp last year, to all but forgotten.

His role as a holder on special teams may even be up for grabs.

Summer ArrivalsSean White (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) was the lone quarterback signee in the last recruiting class. With three players ahead of him, White should be considered a likely redshirt candidate.

Quotable"It was (Marshall's) first spring but it was our second spring and he had already had a year in the system, so it was kind of uncharted territory for me and coach to have a returning starter go through spring - from that standpoint there's no one to compare him to. But for guys from the past, it was there, it was up there. In fairness to the other guys, he had a whole season they didn't have and it was their first exposure. I thought he was really good, I really do. I really thought all the quarterbacks ... Jonathan Wallace got better. He made throws at times in spring I didn't know he could make, so he got better. Jeremy got better and it was good for Jeremy to get 15 more practices, too." – Rhett Lashlee